The Media Equation - The Provocateurs as Journalists in the Sherrod Case - NYTimes.com

Check the link below for an ominous reality check

Where once there was a pretty bright line between journalist and political operative, there is now a kind of a continuum, with politicians becoming media providers in their own right, and pundits, entertainers and journalists often driving political discussions.

There have been times when it seemed that Rush Limbaugh was acting as de facto head of the Republican Party, as the Democrats picked up talking points from Rachel Maddow. And Sarah Palin, through Facebook and Twitter accounts, has become an important source of political wisdom for many Americans.

The Media Equation - The Provocateurs as Journalists in the Sherrod Case - NYTimes.com